The husband of Finland’s party-loving prime minister Sanna Marin was pictured with his arm around a mystery woman in a nightclub just weeks before he and his wife announced their divorce.
Businessman Markus Räikkönen, 37, is said to have flirted and danced intimately with the Indian woman who is believed to have been on holiday in Finland with Bollywood stars Rakul Preet and Pragya Jaiswal.
Finnish media reported that he drunkenly tried to kiss her as they stood together at the bar of the Post nightclub in Helsinki in the early hours of the morning, but she is said to have rebuffed his advances.
The encounter happened when Räikkönen and Marin, 37, appeared to be largely leading separate lives in the months before they finally revealed this week that they were splitting up after 19 years together.
It followed publication of the notorious videos last August showing Marin dancing intimately with celebrity friends, and earlier hosting a party for them at her official prime minister’s residence where a supermodel guest and another friend cheekily bared their breasts.
Markus Räikkönen, 37, is said to have flirted and danced intimately with the Indian woman who is believed to have been on holiday in Finland. The two are believed to be at the Post nightclub in Helsinki
Outgoing Finnish PM Sanna Marin announced her divorce with Markus Raikkonen on her Instagram. ‘Together we’ve filed for divorce. We’re grateful for the 19 years together and for our beloved daughter,’ she said
In an apparent further example of the growing cracks in her marriage, Marin is said to have spent Easter last month relaxing in Paris with a group of friends while her husband stayed in Finland.
The friends on the trip included 32-year-old Finnish politician Ilmari Nurminen, a fellow Social Democratic Party MP who has been described by Marin as her ‘bestie’, although there is no suggestion that they are in a relationship.
The Indian woman who danced with Räikkönen is reported to have travelled to Finland in March for a winter break with others from the Bollywood film industry including Rakul Preet and Pragya Jaiswal.
The group met up with the prime minister’s husband and chef Mikael Mihailov, known as Mr Caviar, at the famous Asian cuisine Farang restaurant in Helsinki, run by Finnish celebrity chef Tomi Björck.
Mihailov posted an Instagram picture featuring him and Räikkönen posing with the women on the steps of the restaurant, along with the caption: ‘Whatta lovely night, namaste’
Finnish gossip magazine Seskia described how Räikkönen visited the Post nightclub the following night with a woman travelling with the Bollywood stars.
The magazine reported how the pair were first spotted on the dance floor at midnight, and were in the club until past 4am.
One witness was reported as saying: ‘The other dancers noticed them easily, because they had a really intimate atmosphere’.
The witness added: ‘Markus huffed wildly against the woman. Sometimes the prime minister’s spouse moved behind the woman and began to poke her from behind with his hips. Markus was really hot.’
He and the woman who is not believed to be an actress were also spotted at the bar where he was photographed holding her around the hips.
The witness said: ‘Markus constantly tried to advance physically, but the woman backed off a bit. He was fully involved in the touching… Markus also tried to kiss the woman several times, but she didn’t give in.’
The witness said the prime minister’s husband was ‘starting to get quite drunk, so the squirming didn’t quite work anymore’.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin announced that she is divorcing her husband Markus Raikkonen (pictured together) after 19 years together
Sanna Marin and her husband Markus Raikkonen during the Finnish Independence Day celebration at the presidential palace, in Helsinki, December 2022
Sanna Marin and Markus Raikkonen during their wedding outside the PM’s official residence Kesaranta, in Helsinki, August 1, 2020
Sanna Marin and Markus Raikkonen had rarely been seen in public together in the months leading to their divorce announcement
Sanna Marin and Markus Raikkonen at a ice hockey game in May 2022
Another witness told Seskia: ‘What surprised me the most was how openly Markus flirted with the woman. He didn’t care at all about the looks of others, even though he is married to Sanna.
‘I’m not terribly conservative, but yes, Markus should behave befitting the dignity of the prime minister’s spouse. Such a situation degrades the institution of the prime minister.’
Members of the Indian ‘girl gang’ headed up to Lapland after the night out where they went on husky sleigh rides, rode snow mobiles, trekked through forests and viewed the Northern Lights.
Rakul Preet who has 23 million followers on Instagram posted a series of pictures and videos of her and her friends enjoying their fun trip in the snow which was excitedly reported by Indian showbiz media.
Marin and her former footballer husband, who have been together since they were aged 18, but only married three-years-ago, jointly announced on Instagram this week that they were divorcing, but gave no reasons for their split.
The announcement was made just over a month after Marin revealed that she was stepping down as leader of the centre left Social Democratic Party after its defeat in elections, meaning that the country is likely to get a new conservative prime minister.
Her long-standing politician friend Ilmari Nurminen is known on social media in Finland as ‘Bile-Ilmari’ which translates as ‘Party-Ilmari’ because he is so often seen socialising with the prime minister.
Nurminen, who was vice chairman of the Finnish parliament’s LGBT group known as its ‘rainbow network’ in 2021, travelled to Paris with Marin and other friends for Easter after their party’s election defeat.
Marin posted an Instagram story picture of herself, dressed in her trademark black leather jacket, with Nurminen outside the Notre Dame cathedral with a message, saying: ‘It was a nice Easter in Paris with friends. Thank you for being there. You are loved.’
Meanwhile her husband stayed behind in Helsinki, posting black and white pictures of himself in Finland’s capital city.
Marin posted an Instagram story picture of herself, dressed in her trademark black leather jacket, with Nurminen outside the Notre Dame cathedral over Easter
Marin is said to have spent Easter last month relaxing in Paris with group of friends including Ilmari Nurminen, a fellow Social Democratic Party MP, while her husband stayed in Finland
Marin’s long-standing politician friend Ilmari Nurminen is known on social media in Finland as ‘Bile-Ilmari’ which translates as ‘Party-Ilmari’ because he is so often seen socialising with the prime minister
Nurminen Instagram page includes many with pictures of him and Marin, enjoying trips out and about, and at political events
Marin is pictured with fellow Finnish politician Ilmari Nurminen, a fellow Social Democratic Party MP who has been described by Marin as her ‘bestie’, although there is no suggestion that they are in a relationship
Nurminen, who was vice chairman of the Finnish parliament’s LGBT group known as its ‘rainbow network’ in 2021, travelled to Paris with Marin and other friends for Easter after their party’s election defeat
Nurminen who was reported in March to have a partner who is a doctor also featured in pictures posted by Marin on Valentine’s Day on February 14 this year to pay tribute to those close to her.
The image of her and Nurminen in the gym together carried a sticker, describing him as her ‘bestie’. The pair who are both MPs for the Tampere region in Finland are understood to have been close friends for many years.
Nurminen’s own Instagram page includes many with pictures of him and Marin, enjoying trips out and about, and at political events.
Marin made headlines around the world last August after videos showed her dancing with Finnish celebrity friends in two apartments before heading to a nightclub.
One video featured someone shouting the words ‘flour gang’ in the background, leading to speculation that drugs might have been taken as ‘flour’ is slang for cocaine in Finland.
The claims led to Marin holding a press conference when she denied ever taking drugs and insisting she had not seen any being taken by anyone else on her night out.
She revealed that she had taken a drugs test to prove her innocence, and her official spokesperson confirmed that the results had come back as negative.
Footage taken on the same night showed her dancing intimately on a crowded dancefloor of the Klubi nightclub in Helsinki with Finnish singer Olavi Uusivirta, 39, leading to him issuing a denial that they were having an affair.
Uusivirta was seen pressing his face against Ms Marin’s neck at one point in a gesture that some elements of the country’s media claimed was a kiss.
Marin later denied that Uusivirta had kissed her when they danced, saying that he might have leant towards her to say something.
She strongly defended her right to enjoy herself on a night out with friends, insisting that it did not interfere with her official duties.
Prime Minister Sanna Marin addresses media at the Parliament in Helsinki, Finland, to announce that she will step down as Social Democratic Party (SDP) leader in September 2023
Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin speaks during a news conference following her party’s election defeat, Helsinki, Finland April 2, 2023
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, Social Democratic Party chair, reacts as she watches results of parliamentary election in Helsinki, April 2, 2023
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin addresses supporters during her elections rally in Helsinki in April
Outgoing Finnish Prime Minister speaks after receiving an award at the Helmut Schmidt Future Prize award ceremony at the Thalia Theater, in Hamburg, Germany, May 4, 2023
Ms Marin claimed that she had drunk only a moderate amount and had not even woken up with a hangover in the morning.
Some commentators accused her of behaviour which was unbecoming of a world leader, while others claimed that she might not have been capable of making a proper decision if an emergency had arisen during her party weekend.
But many were more relaxed and said that she deserved to let her hair down, like anyone else.
Women from Finland and around the world also posted a string of videos of themselves dancing in various situations in a show of solidarity with her.
Other social media users compared Marin’s dance moves favourably with the clumsy dancefloor antics of Boris Johnson when he was the UK’s prime minister, suggesting that she would easily win a ‘prime ministers’ dance off’ between the UK and Finland.
It was also reported that witnesses saw Marin dancing with another two men in similar fashion and sitting on the laps of two others during the high-spirited night out.
Another raunchy video showed her dancing provocatively with Finnish social media influencer and former Finnsh beauty queen Sabina Särkkä, 34, as they draped their arms around each other with their legs nearly touching.
Marin was wearing the same white trousers and black sleeveless top in both videos suggesting they were filmed on the same night.
Other young revellers could be seen in the video looking on in amazement at the sight of their prime minister letting her hair down.
Marin was said to have danced with three different men and then sat in the laps of two male companions in August, according to witnesses
A video of Sanna Marin caused a stir when she was seen dancing rather intimately with a stranger in club Café Klubi in August 2022
Leaked footage shows Sanna Marin, 36, dancing provocatively with Finnish social media influencer Sabina Särkkä, 33, in August 2022
In August last year, Marin was secretly filmed dancing intimately with Finnish singer Olavi Uusivirta, 39, (pictured) leading to him issuing a denial that they were having an affair. There is no suggestion Uusivirta is to blame for the couple’s split
The publication of the footage sparked an angry backlash in Finland with some social media users condemning Seiska magazine as ‘sick’ for publishing it.
One Twitter user said: ‘There is absolutely nothing hot, nothing intimate, nothing special, but this is how women have fun with each other.’
Another added: ‘Which is worse? Wondering about the women dancing with each other or hinting that Sabina is not suitable company for married housewives.’
Uusivirta who got divorced from his wife in 2021, dismissed any suggestion last August that he was in a relationship with his country’s leader.
In a post on his social media accounts, he said: ‘There has been speculation in the public about the quality of the relationship between me and prime minister Sanna Marin.
‘Hand on heart I can just say it like it is: we are friends and nothing inappropriate has happened. I won’t comment on the matter anymore publicly. Have a great weekend!’
Marin was also forced to apologise last year when her former model friend Särkkä and another woman pulling up their tops while kissing each other during a fun evening at the prime minister’s official residence called Kesäranta after a visit to a rock festival.
The raunchy picture posted on Särkkä’s TikTok account was taken next to an official blue backdrop board in a workspace where Marin is often filmed making official announcements.
Särkkä who was dressed in a cowboy hat, denim shorts and a leather jacket held her hand over her breasts while her friend covered her chest in the picture by holding a sign saying ‘FINLAND’ which is usually on Marin’s desk.
The influencer also apologised saying she was ‘deeply sorry’ for the ‘inappropriate’ picture which should ‘never have been taken’.
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